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The Story Behind "The Room"
One night in 1995, while visiting Puerto Rico for a Billy Graham crusade, I had a very powerful dream. I recorded it in the form of a story and named it The Room. I had no idea then how far the story of my dream would circulate.
The article was orginally published in New Attitude magazine in 1995, and then reprinted in a chapter of my book I Kissed Dating Goodbye in 1997. It touches on the universal themes of guilt and redemption. How does a man find forgiveness for the wrongs he's committed or for the good he's left undone? Is our past something we can leave behind or forget? How can any of us know true forgiveness from a God who is holy and just?
Related Links
In a buried section of my website we gathered information about The Room. But since that page is now hard to find, I decided to post it again here.
• Read The Room
As the final link references, there's been a sad controversy around the authorship of the story. But the issue of central importance about the story is not it's author or its popularity, but the powerful message it communicates. The Room points to our need for a Savior who can rescue us from the punishment our sins deserve. Jesus Christ is that Savior.
Your Feedback
Over the last few years I've toyed with the idea of writing a shorter, evangelistic book that would use The Room to introduce and explain the gospel to people who don't know Jesus. I'm not sure I'm up for it, but I have always wanted to write a book that is written for a non-Christian reader--one that seeks to present the gospel in words he or she can relate to and understand. The Room seems to open the door for conversation about our guilt and need for redemption. But by itself it is incomplete--and possibly even misleading in what it fails to explain about God's wrath toward sin and the need for repentance and faith. It needs much more thorough explanation and unpacking to truly point people to salvation through Jesus Christ. That's what I'd try to do in the book.
So if you're willing to post a comment, I'd love to hear from you on one or all of the following: 1) Do you have a story of how The Room effected you when you firt read it? Or do you know of someone who was touched by it? 2) Do you think this book idea has merit? Do you think it would be useful in sharing the gospel with unbelievers? (Don't hesitate to say "no". I won't be hurt.) 3) Do you have any suggestions on what a book like the one I'm considering should include?
Any and all feedback is welcome. Some of you might remember that my third book, Sex is Not the Problem launched with a request on my website for stories and suggestions. So who knows, this post could be the start of something, too. I look forward to getting your perspective!
Featured Sermons
- The Authority of Scripture
Mark Dever on the Word of God at New Attitude 2008
Nanoblog
Joel Harris on Worship: My brother Joel, who leads worship for the Rebelution conference, has written an article entitled "We Must Be Constant Worshipers."
Atheism Remix: The contemporary strain of atheism--the New Atheism--is more popular and widely accepted than previous strains. Dr. Al Mohler's newest book provides a Christian response to New Atheism's four leading thinkers: Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens. You can learn more at a promotional site for the book.
Mahaney on Humor: Humor is a gift from God. When humbly and wisely used, it is a means of transferring truth and generating joy. This message by C.J. Mahaney addresses how we can use humor to build others up and honor God. It's worth a listen.
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Comments (2)
I emailed your Church asking for permission to use your story "The Room" in a book of mine in the Chapter titled, "Salvaton...A Free Gift." The book is called, "What I Would Tell You... If You Will Listen......The Truth According to the Word of God." It is exactly what the title says it is... I use tons of scripture to prove that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and that Jesus' work on the Cross is a finished work. I also expose false doctrine and the New Age movements that are creeping into our churches and then end the book with a Salvation message in hopes that the reader will give their heart and soul to the Lord! I love your story and believe it shows the incredible gift that we have available to us when we accept Jesus as Savior. If you would be willing to let me put the story in my book, I would really appreciate it, and if you do say yes, would you mind if I put your name as the author? Your sister in Jesus Christ, Karen Romero
Posted by Karen Romero | April 3, 2007 4:31 PM
'The Room' is the most powerful thing I've read, and as a Christian it has convicted me to get my life straight with God. I definitely think it should be made into some type of literature material with a little more explanation of the gospel for non-believers. I think a tract that could be handed out would be ideal, especially if it was in action-comic form like Jack Chick's tracts. People, especially teens and college age, are more likely to read something in the form of a comic than pure text - they don't have the interest or the patience for text alone because of the multimedia world they've grown up in. I think it would also work well if it was not immediately apparent by the cover or the first few pages that the tract is about Christianity, so they will not throw it out immediately before beginning to read it. May God continue to use 'The Room' as a powerful tool for calling sinners to repentance.
Posted by Chris | April 3, 2008 3:00 AM